“The talent from all over the world is really incredible and it's great that the Midlands has such a strong focus on world music,” said an impressed festival-goer at the weekend.
One World Music Festival, a two-day music and cultural celebration, drew large crowds to the Midlands this weekend.
Brookside Music Society hosts the festival at Little Lake Park as a way to encourage the community to get up and dance to the rhythms of cultures from around the world and share their culture with others.
“The main purpose of this event is to celebrate inclusivity and diversity,” said John French, founder and artistic director of Brookside Music Society.
“We want to grow this into an annual tourism attraction that inspires community participation and inclusion,” French explained.
The event kicked off on Friday and continued through Saturday night, inviting talented musicians from around the world to take to the stage to celebrate cultures with bands such as Africa's Huronia Hot Strings, The Red Hot Stove Pipe Band, Michel Payment, Stir It Up, Neema Children's Choir, Ontario's Franco Arrico, Spanish flamenco Lara Wong and Melón Jiménez Quartet, the Caribbean's Pan Fantasy Steel Band, Colombia's Beny Esguerra and New Tradition Music (a Latin music style of hip hop), Argentine tango Payadora Tango Ensemble and Afro-Caribbean hip hop Waahli.
“I came here last night and loved it,” said attendee Pat File. “It's such a beautiful place and I love Little Lake Park. It's such a great place.”
She was impressed by the range of music on offer.
“They're bringing diverse music together with a great message. It's one world, different types of music and culture,” said File, who is impressed with the Niima Child Project.
“They're very energetic and I love their youthful energy. It's fun to watch them, not just with their dancing but with their instruments,” File explained.
Despite the rain on Saturday, guests put on their dancing shoes and celebrated their differences and embraced the uniqueness of different cultures.
“I really loved it and I want to come back next year. It's such a good thing for Midland. I came despite the rain but I want to come back just for this,” said local volunteer Tim Adams.
“There are a lot of great people and it's a lot of fun. There's good stuff and new stuff from all over the world,” he added.
Attendees were invited to sip ice-cold cider and beer, shop local businesses and enjoy a taste of culture with spicy jerk products from Auntee Donna, artisanal butter tarts from The Ten of Tarts, Han's European Beach Bites and Muna's Middle East Cuisine.
“Music is universal, and I love that our area code embraces so many different music cultures,” Michael Duckett said.
“Music is for all of us. Whether you're young or old, listening to different types of music is a heartfelt gesture for us to understand different cultures and for them to understand us,” Duckett said.
Faye Brouillard danced along with others to the Ontario band “Alico” by Lafontaine Franco.
“They're my favorite band. I listen to them all the time and I have their CDs,” she explained.
Laurie Boone spoke highly of the Spanish Flamenco music performed by Melon Jimenez and the Lara Wong World Quartet.
“The Flamenco dancing was fantastic. The talent from all over the world is truly amazing,” Boone said.
Tara Portelli agreed.
“The talent from all over the world is so incredible and it's great that the Midlands has such an emphasis on world music,” said Portelli, dancing with Michael Duckett.
